Fostex R8 not playing, but doing everything else

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lordroger

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Hello,

Today I've received a used Fostex R8 reel to reel recorder (8 tracks on 1/4" tape). As this is my first analog multitrack, I'm new to this world and also to this forum :)

I'm having some problems with it, which I'm going to explain, hoping someone can give me some advice. There I go...

First of all, with no tape placed yet, only right reel moved (counterclockwise) and something was loose inside, I've opened it and placed the belt (is this the name?) from the engine to the left reel.

Once closed, both reels move, but the situation is as follows:


When I rewind the tape, left reel moves clockwise and rewinds the tape:
rew.webp​
.
Good.


When I press the FFWD button, right reel moves counterclockwise and works as expected:
ff.webp​
.
Brilliant.



But when I click on PLAY, left reel moves clockwise and right reel moves counterclockwise, the tape is pulled from both sides and doesn't move:
play.webp​
.

I don't know if it's the normal operation (I imagine it is NOT, but...) and I'm doing something wrong.

Being my fault or a defect in the machine, please, any idea about how to solve it?

Thank you very much
 
I don't know much about the R8, but in the Revox B77, if you force it to run empty, it does indeed try to turn both reels in opposing directions like that, which I believe is how it keeps tension on the tape.

Now, missing from the diagram but to the right of the head cover there should be two small wheels - a metal one (the capstan) and a larger, rubber-coated one (the pinch roller). This is actually what pulls the tape. Firstly, check whether the tape is threaded correctly - it needs to go between the capstan and the pinch roller.

Then, make sure that the capstan is turning - I can't remember from my old A8 whether it spins continuously or only when tape is loaded. If it isn't turning, you have a problem. This could be mechanical (the belt has come off), electronic (the sensor has failed - usually on the right tension lever) or serious (the motor has died).
 
Thanks, jpmorris!:o

The tape is placed as in the manual, as in this picture:
r8.webp
from chookfest.net/emil/gear/r8.html​

I don't have the machine here right now, but... I would say the capstan didn't turn... wow, bad news. The pinch roller turned freely, easily, but I'm not so sure about the capstan, I think it was stuck. I'll check tomorrow.:(
r8det.webp
I understand capstan is A and pinch roller is B.​

I would say there was somehow a bigger than desirable resistance when PLAY was pressed against making the reels and the tape move manually, probably coming from the capstan+pinch roller.


Herm,:p
I tried with the tape put on, and would'nt move when PLAY pressed, so I tried to figure out what happened with no tape loaded.

Thank you all, I am a newbie and I felt really lost...
 
Check the drive-belt, if the capstan axel and pinch-roller doesn't move probably belt or motor.:)
 
lordroger said:
I don't know if it's the normal operation (I imagine it is NOT, but...) and I'm doing something wrong.

Being my fault or a defect in the machine, please, any idea about how to solve it?
Click to expand...

The reels are spinning as they should. The left reel spins like that during play because that reel provides back tension.

Your capstan drive belt is probably broken, loose or melted into a blob from a common chemical breakdown of the rubber.

You can buy a new belt from these guys among other places:

http://www.openreel.net/parts_1.html

Here’s the manual from Fostex:

http://www.fostexusa.com/support/pdf/fostex/r8/r8_owners_manual.pdf

:)
 
Hi,

I've just checked that the capstan doesn't turn, and if I try to make it turn manually, a considerable amount of force needs to be applied... well, it's almost completely locked.

If you look at the picture,
IMG_0376.webp​

I've noticed that:

1) The circular piece (1) has a belt around it, but it never moves. It seems that making it turn manually makes nothing else move. I suspect this could be the belt that moves the capstan... or not.

2) When the machine is idle (stopped) and I pull any of the pieces shown in (2) (as if the tape was tight) I can hear a noise, like a motor turning. When I stop pulling them (like if there was no tape), there's no such noise. I would say that the noise comes from the motor under piece (1), but I am not sure.

Are pieces 1 and 2 related?

Thanks!
 
lordroger said:
Hi,
1) The circular piece (1) has a belt around it, but it never moves. It seems that making it turn manually makes nothing else move. I suspect this could be the belt that moves the capstan... or not.

2) When the machine is idle (stopped) and I pull any of the pieces shown in (2) (as if the tape was tight) I can hear a noise, like a motor turning. When I stop pulling them (like if there was no tape), there's no such noise. I would say that the noise comes from the motor under piece (1), but I am not sure.

Are pieces 1 and 2 related?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

Right, that's looking good. Many decks like this have a sensor on at least one of the tension arms (2) so the capstan motor only turns when the tape is loaded, so yes, pulling on them should start the motor and that seems to be happening, which is good. Your problem then is a transmission problem between the capstan and the drive motor.

The mechanism seems to be different to the A8 so I don't know quite what's going on. I think we really need to see what's going on inside, or from the back or something. There must be a fairly easy way to get at it since the belt has to be replaced every so often - this is almost certainly your problem.
 
[Solved] - Fostex R8 not playing, but doing everything else

Hi all,

At first I was really afraid because the R8 seemed to be so complex, with so many parts, so many circuits... I thought that if I opened it I wouldn't close it.

Anyway, and with a friend of mine, we've disassembled and, and as jpmorris pointed:
Your problem then is a transmission problem between the capstan and the drive motor.
Click to expand...
The capstan belt had locked both the motor and the capstan axis', so it wouldn't move.

We've successfully placed the belt, assembled the machine and checked that everything worked OK. I've been able to record some music on two channels and then play it back, which has been really exciting.

So... thank you very much, I'm really happy now that I'm back in the analogue era. Without your help it would have been impossible.
 
No, I put the same one. I suppose it went out of place during the trip (it came from Germany to Barcelona).

I didn't have another and it seemed to be in good shape.
 
See post 6

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showpost.php?p=2832636&postcount=6

As a rule belts don't come off even in rough shipping unless they’re too loose fitting already. Most belts and many pinch rollers should be replaced on vintage machines as a matter of course when purchased. It will likely jump off again, but even if it doesn’t wow & flutter and speed consistency will be poor until you get a new belt.

The rubber on belts and rollers breaks down over time whether the machine is being used or in storage.

:)
 
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